Small bar baggage left me chilly till, when kitting up for a tour of northern Spain and Mallorca in the summertime of 2023, it dawned on me that I wanted someplace accessible to hold my passport, cellphone, multitool and a rain jacket each on and off the bike.
Sure, I may have gone down the standard route of stuffing my rear pockets, however frankly, I’d reasonably have my eyeballs extracted with out anaesthetic. What’s it about biking? No different pastime I can consider requires individuals to tuck away the stuff they’re more likely to want quick and ceaselessly in a spot that’s each unreachable and unseeable. Yep, I’m no fan of largely inaccessible, small, sweaty rear jersey pockets, notably on lengthy rides.
My Discover Bar Bag buy, alternatively, paid off handsomely. It carries extra fashion kudos than bulging pockets and doubles up as a shoulder bag, making it tremendous versatile, particularly for journey. Therefore the ‘discover’ moniker. It is not a characteristic that a lot of the most effective handlebar baggage have, both.
Sadly, it’s not all nice information. Learn on to find whether or not your experience necessities are higher off ‘within the bag’ or, regardless of my prejudice, ‘within the pocket’.
Development
The bag is comparatively modest in dimension, but it gives considerably extra stowage area than awkward-to-reach jersey pockets.
(Picture credit score: Future/Simon Fellows)
Measuring roughly 75mm x 120mm x 245mm, the Discover Bar Bag is comparatively modest in dimension, but it’s capacious sufficient to hold necessities for a day experience with out overwhelming your handlebar actual property. Rapha doesn’t publish the bag’s capability, however it’s about 2.3 litres by my back-of-the-envelope calculations.
The first materials is rugged ripstop nylon, which, with its pronounced texture and matt end, may go for a tightly woven canvas. It actually feels each hard-wearing and strong. It’s PU coated on its inside face, and all main seams are taped, making it reliably water-resistant.
My authentic bag that accompanied me throughout Spain, turned inside out to indicate taped seams and the elasticated webbing strip.
(Picture credit score: Future/Simon Fellows)
There are two zipped pockets: a most important compartment that accounts for a lot of the bag’s capability and a slim, no-frills pouch constructed into the entrance panel. The chunky plastic zippers are heavy-duty, however they’re not waterproof. Nevertheless, every is hid behind a storm flap to maintain the worst of the climate at bay, and each have prolonged rubberised pull cords to make sure the sliders are simple to seize maintain of.
The principle compartment is kind of spartan, with solely a band of elasticated webbing to assist organise its contents. The slim entrance pocket is totally featureless internally, however it boasts a small webbing strip on its outdoors face to carry a lightweight or reflector. Moreover, the storm flap that conceals the entrance pocket is coated with a skinny artificial rubber strip to withstand put on and add a contact of visible curiosity. On my black pattern bag, the Rapha emblem is neatly embroidered in white stitching within the decrease proper nook. Different colourways characteristic self-coloured embroidery for a extra delicate look.
The rear panel, product of Hypalon, prevents scuffing and conceals the straps when they aren’t in use.
(Picture credit score: Future/Simon Fellows)
The Discover Bar Bag options three straps plus a brief size of elasticated shock wire. A pair of slender (200mm x 20mm) straps and corresponding plastic loops are securely stitched into the again of the bag, one high proper and the opposite high left. It’s these straps, that are backed with self-engaging hook and loop, that fasten the bag to the bars. The shock wire then wraps across the head tube or headset spacers to cut back any undesirable motion.
The shoulder strap, which is for much longer and barely broader (1200mm x 25mm), converts the Discover Bar Bag right into a cross-body bag or waist bag for off-bike use. It emerges from all sides and fastens with a strong, adjustable, quick-release plastic clasp.
A glossy, smooth Hypalon (artificial rubber) rear panel elegantly conceals the stitching that completely anchors all three straps to the bag and, in concept, protects your bike’s headtube from scratches. Vitally, the straps are presupposed to be stowed behind the Hypalon panel when not in use.
The experience
The bag is comparatively compact, so it does not intervene with my arms when driving on the tops.
(Picture credit score: Future/Simon Fellows)
Attaching the Discover Bar Bag is youngster’s play, and I say that after attempting it on all kinds of bikes and bars. The method is so fast and simple that it elevates this bag above a lot of its competitors. Hook and loop (generally often known as Velcro) makes for such a easy system that attaching or eradicating the bag takes me 30 seconds, if that. To hook up the bag, loosely safe one strap by threading it across the bar, by the plastic loop and again on itself, then repeat with the opposite strap. If crucial, modify the bag’s remaining place earlier than tightening each. Lastly, tie the shock wire across the stem or head tube. To take away the bag, merely reverse the method.
In my expertise, the straps are lengthy sufficient to mount this bag on most flat-topped aero street bars, as sacrilegious as which will sound to some. It should even piggyback on high of a lot bigger bikepacking baggage. As soon as in place, the bag may be very safe, and the straps are low profile sufficient to not be too irksome. On my 42cm bars, it’s additionally sufficiently small to not intervene a lot with my arms when driving on the tops.
Changing the bag from a bar bag to a shoulder bag is a little bit fiddly as a result of it could take some time to stuff the 2 smaller straps behind the big Hypalon panel. As soon as the method is full although, the result’s each tidy and convincing. In shoulder bag mode, there’s little visible clue that this may very well be a bar bag and vice versa.
Loading it up is easy sufficient as a result of it doesn’t current many choices. The principle compartment is my default place for package – I hardly ever use the entrance pocket except I’m carrying one thing slim, corresponding to a passport, a Hiplok Z Lok or a further pair of driving glasses for altering situations. Speaking of which, I’ve ridden with my Discover Bar Bag by every little thing from gentle showers to transient however heavy rainstorms, and the contents have remained dry. That mentioned, I wouldn’t belief it to take a correct dunking or climate a protracted deluge.
The zips are rugged and hid by storm flaps, however are sometimes frustratingly tough to function.
(Picture credit score: Future/Simon Fellows)
Why would anybody need a bar bag that readily doubles as a shoulder bag? Properly, this bag is in its component throughout bike-packing breaks or off-road adventures. Throughout my Spanish journey, it enabled me to cease at grocery retailers, cafés and eating places, secure within the data that I may rapidly seize my prized possessions to take with me. My passport, money, playing cards, cellphone and extra had been at all times at hand, saving me having to rummage by my Tailfinn Aeropack or my body bag. Small, accessible and contained – in all places I went, on-bike or off, this modest bag and its helpful little payload went too.
The shoulder strap is broad sufficient however not fairly lengthy sufficient. It’s secured with a quick-release clasp that has stood as much as loads of put on and tear.
(Picture credit score: Future/Simon Fellows)
It’s, in fact, appropriate for extra than simply prolonged journey journeys. I’ll hardly ever take it on very brief rides, but when I plan to be out for a few hours or extra it will get filled with a packable rain jacket, multitool, mini pump, spare tube, levers, cellphone and snacks. Its modest dimension and close to on the spot deployment make it the proper day pack. Properly, virtually.
Sadly, there may be, fairly actually, a snag. The zip for the primary compartment generally is a satan to open or shut when you fail to get the 2 sides – tape or enamel – aligned. It appears to be luck of the draw, at some point it would shut with ease, the following it could take a superb minute or two. Consequently, this isn’t a bag you’ll wish to unzip throughout an energetic a part of a experience, which is able to restrict its use for some cyclists.
A extra minor irritation is the shoulder strap size, which can be on the brief aspect for taller cyclists. I’m 191cm tall and it’s nearly OK as a cross-body bag.
Worth and Conclusions
(Picture credit score: Future/Simon Fellows)
Bar baggage will at all times be ‘Marmite’ merchandise as a result of, regardless of their optimistic attributes, they negatively affect a motorbike’s aerodynamics. What’s extra, they spoil the strains of any drop-bar street bike.
If, nevertheless, you’re extra involved by practicalities than aesthetics, or worth on a regular basis performance over out-and-out pace, then a small bag like this makes lots of sense. Definitely, they’re a no brainer for gravel driving and bike-packing.
Ortlieb’s 3-litre waterproof Velo-Sling is presumably the Discover Bar Bag’s closest competitor. It’s barely bigger, which can or is probably not a superb factor, absolutely waterproof and has a large, detachable strap that repurposes it as a shoulder bag. The closure system is magnetic too, making it a lot simpler to open than the Discover Bar Bag. It’s dearer at £81/$95.
Apidura gives a equally sized bag, the 2-litre Racing Handlebar Pack, for a fraction extra at £70/$93. It doesn’t convert to a shoulder bag, however it’s absolutely waterproof. Restrap’s characterful little 1.5-litre Cannister Bag shares some similarities with the Discover Bar Bag, however it doesn’t convert right into a shoulder bag both. It’s, nevertheless, waterproof and offers a less expensive different at £49.99/$74.99.
Zefal’s choice, the two.5-litre Z Journey F2, is neither a shoulder bag neither is it absolutely waterproof, however it’s very inexpensive at €39.95.
To sum up, the Rapha Discover Bar Bag might carry a premium value, however its versatile, well-thought-out design gives a further layer of performance that few different baggage can match. For my part, it’s additionally one of many extra enticing small baggage available on the market. It’s such a disgrace the primary zip lets it down.
Specs
Materials: Ripstop Nylon
Dimensions (approx.): 75mm x 120mm x 245mm
Capability (approx.): 2.3 litres
Weight: 165g
